Growing Jack-in-the-Pulpits from Seed

Arisaema triphyllum - Jack-in-the-pulpit seed

   An Army of Jacks Plus One!

          Propagating Arisaema triphyllum

 
  Last year was an exciting year! I raised enough Jack-in the Pulpit seed that purchasing commercially grown seed wasn't necessary. I must warn you that raising Arisaema triphyllum for seed is a slow process, four years to be exact. If you are pressed for time then by all means purchase a mature plant. Actually you will need two, both a male and female.

  On the other hand if you are up for a challenge, and are interested in raising woodland plants from seed then, Jack-in the Pulpits are a good place to start.

Spring Wildflowers in February

Guess Who is Sleeping in My Garden?

Spring Beauty -Caytonia virginiana

  With the temperature hovering at -3°F° and the snow piling up, it is hard not to dream about spring. I thought this was a great day to bring out the spring wildflower photo album, well really the flash drive. How up-lifting and encouraging it is to be reminded of what lays dormant patiently waiting for spring. I hope that these Spring Beauties bring some sunshine into your home!

 Spring Beauty, Caytonia virginiana were a charming addition to my garden last year. The blossoms didn't last as long as I expected, perhaps the excessive amount of rain we had last spring impacted them. Caytonia virginiana like most woodland species appreciates filtered shade and a nice cozy blanket of leaf hummus. Winter's protection ideally is two-fold, leaves and snow. Other woodland companions like: Jack-in-the-pulpit, Mayapple, Trillium, Wild ginger, Bloodroot, Goldenseal, Wild Ginger, Wild Geranium, Wild Columbine, Dwarf Crested Iris, Shooting Star and Solomon's Seal are also reaping the benefits of an extra layer of icy insulation.

How to Grow Milkweed From Seed

 Raising Milkweed from Seed is Easier than You Think

 

Butterfly Weed, Swamp, Poke Milkweed

  Don't be intimidated by the term stratifying. Stratifying native plant seed is nothing more than, “tricking” seed into believing it is time to rev up their engines and start growing. Plants that are native to Ohio have a built in “safety mechanism", which prevents them from starting the germination process until conditions are optimal, length of daylight and ground temperature are a few of the ways seeds receive their "signal" that spring has arrived. If species like Asclepias (milkweed) are duped in to believing spring was right around the corner during the first January thaw their seedling survival rate would certainly plummet.